a
half-suffocated voice.

"Directly we can man the boats."

"Ah!" exclaimed the Resident, sinking into a chair, with his hand to his
breast.

"But you are not fit to go with them."

The Resident smiled faintly and made a gesticulation.

"It's no use to waste words, Knowle," said the Doctor. "I know better
than you what he can stand, and I have told him it is madness to think
of it."

"Yes; and I am going to be mad," said the Resident bitterly. "If you
have not given your instructions already, sir, pray do so at once. At
all costs I must go."

The Major shrugged his shoulders.

"I want two boats," he said. "I am going to take yours, of course. But
one of my difficulties is, who is to take charge of the expedition?"

Archie started, and his lips parted to speak.

"I shall take charge of it," said the Resident.

"Very well.--You are not fit to go, Maine?" said the Major.

"Oh yes, sir," cried Archie eagerly.

"No, sir," cried the Major; and the subaltern's brow puckered up in his
disappointment. "And I can't spare you," continued the Major. "But
under the circumstances I must, for I can spare no one else. Of course
there will be a sergeant and a corporal--and a nice state we shall be
left in here!--You, Dallas, take my advice. If you really mean to go,
leave all the preparations to the Doctor. But really I think you had
better let him go in your place."

"Yes," said the Doctor; "and it is my duty to my child."

Sir Charles made an angry movement, and the Major was about to issue his
orders, when he sprang from his seat, for a rifle-shot rang out on the
still night.

"What does that mean?" exclaimed Sir Charles.

There was another shot, followed by another and another.

"Attack, and in force;" cried the Major, crossing to the side of the
room, to catch up hurriedly his sword and belt; and he was busy buckling
the latter as the bugle rang out the assembly.

By the time he was out in the front the sentries were being driven in,
and announced that the Malays were advancing in force; and almost
immediately two of the men hurried out of the darkness supporting one of
their comrades, who was bleeding profusely from a spear-wound, the
weapon thrown by one of the attacking Malays being carried by a
fellow-soldier.

The men turned out without the slightest confusion, and fell into their
places under the direction of the officers remaining for the defence of
the cantonments, and so well had the a